Safety release



N. L ETTEN SAFETY RELEASE Y Fina-mig. 2o. 19s? r l l I IL June 29, 1943-. N. L. ETrEN 2,323,210

SAFETY RELEASE.

Jun29,1943.- l. Enz-En i 2,323,210

SAFETY RELEASE i Filed Aug. 20, 1957 K f 5 sheets-sheet 4 ITI l| ""HHHHHHHH l'" HIIIHrHIIHIIHH June 29, 1943. N. L. ETTEN 2,323,210

SAFETY RELEASE Filed Aug. 20, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 29, 1943 UNITED ST'ES TENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to wringer roll pressure release and reset mechanism and more particularly to power operated types of wringers. While the invention will be disclosed in connection with wringers and has many advantages making it particularly useful for wringer purposes, it is of broader application and may be incorporated in other types of machines employing two or more rolls for the exertion of pressure.

' In the manufacture of wringers, and particularly power operated wringers it has been customary to provide emergency release mechanisms as a safety measure. These release mechanisms are often operated by a handle or bar carried by the wringer frame and adapted to release the pressure on the rolls when moved in a predetermined direction. It should be noted, however, that these require manual operation and in the event of an emergency this'operation must be almost instantaneous if the operator is to escape injury. At the time of any emergency itl may happen that the operator is in pain or unfamiliar with the machine and, therefore, lacks the presence of mind to operate a release bar in exactly the required manner. It will readily be seen that in case of any emergency, as, for example, in the event that the operators hand should come between the rolls, any delay of even an instant would result in a more serious injury.

It is, therefore, desirable that `any release. associated with the machines be of such nature that it may be operated by movement in any direction. In obtaining this result, there are certain difficulties to be overcome, since the mechanism must not be overly complicated,.nor easily affected by disuse or rust. It has been found that some mechanical movements designed to attain certain of the ends of this invention have been over-sensitive and subject to accidental release. This accidental release may be caused by an overload of the wringer, by failure of thereleasing parts properly to operate, or for other reasons, and as the parts of the mechanism wear it has been found that some release mechanisms become almost entirely useless. Other mechanical movements have been unsuccessful in that they require considerable force to be exerted on the release bar in order to effectively release the pressure.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide means whereby the pressure on wringer rolls and the like may be substantially instantaneously released in case of an emergency or other need, the means being of such character the pressure may be reestablished with facility and relative ease.

Another important object of this invention is to provide pressure releasing means for Wringer rolls, the means being of such character as to be easily and eiectively operated by movement of the releasing control in any one of several possible directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide manual releasing means for pressure rolls, the means being of such character as to be capable of releasing relatively great roll pressures by the exertion of a minimum effort on the releasing control.

Another object of this invention is to provide a releasing means of a stable and rugged nature and which while not being readily subject to accidental release may be operated substantially instantaneously in case of an emergency.

Another object is to provide an emergency wringer releasing means having a single releas ing latch capable of release movement in one direction only and having release control mech# anism adapted to actuate the latch if such control is moved in any one of a plurality of directions.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a release devicesimple in construction; dependable invoperation and economical in man' ufacture.

In the present invention these objects are aci complished as willbe apparent after reading the' description of a preferred embodiment of the in-z vention, as illustrated in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View similar to Fig. 1, with the parts shown in released position;

Fig. 3 isa detail sectional view ofthe release bar hinge taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1;.

Fig. 5 is a full sized detail sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in one of their operating positions;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5, but

showing the parts in a second operating position Fig. '7 is adetail sectional view taken on the line VII-VH of Fig. 9, the parts being shown in a position corresponding to the position of parts shown in Fig. 5; Y Fig. 8 is a detail sectional. View similar to Fig. 7, but showing the parts in a position corresponding to that in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the wringer top assembly;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the latch and latch trip taken on line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line )H-XI of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken on the line XII-XII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the latch trip; and

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of the latch.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the drawings, the wringer frame comprises a lower channel I carrying uprights II and I2 secured thereto in any desired manner. These uprights II and I2 are channelshaped in cross-section and the upright II carries a pair of supporting brackets I3. These supporting brackets I3 are adapted to be afiixed to other mechanism (such as described in my United States patent, 2,205,137, issued June 18, 1940) in order to support the wringer and to facilitate the driving of the rolls by a source of power (not shown). The channel-shaped uprights II and I2 have inturned anges I4 and I on ltheir inner faces and thus provide substantial box-like slides I6 and I1 to accommodate the bearings, as will be hereinafter described. l A saddle I8 is secured withinthe lower channel I0 in any desired manner, as by means of pins I9 and screws 20. An adjustment screw 2I is carried by the saddle I8 and bears against a clip 22 affixed to a leaf spring-23. A pair of bearing supports 24 and 25 are positioned within the slides I6 and I1 and are adapted to slide vertically therein. Each bearing support carries a pin 26 engaging one end of the leaf spring 23. Lower bearings 21 and 28 are carried by the bearing supports 24 and 25 and in turn carry the lower wringer roll 30. The upper wringer roll 3I is positioned immediately above the lower roll 30 and is carried by bearings 32 and 33.- The bearing 33 is enclosed within a bearing cage 34 pivoted upon the latch pin 35. A sub-top member 36 is also pivoted on the latch pin 35 by means of a bracket 31 and is of substantially channel-shape in cross-section'and carries a reset roller 38 mounted on a pin 39. The pin 39 also carries a bearing retaining plate 40 to which the 'bearing 32 is affixed in any convenient manner, as Vby means of bolts. v

A pair of water baiile plates 42 and 43 are positioned at the ends of the rolls 30 and 3| .and may be secured to the-inturned flanges I4 and I5 of the uprights I`I and I2 in any convenient manner, as by means of rivets 44. The upperA portion 45 of the Wringer frame is pivotally mounted on the pin 46 by means of the top hinge bracket 41. A pivot pin 50 is riveted in the opposite walls 5I and 52 to the top portion 45 of the Wringer frame. A latch member 53 is carried'by the pin 50 and its lower end portions 54 are urged into engagement with the latch pin 35 by means of the spring 55. A pair of ears 56 are carried by the latch 53 vand are adapted to engage perforations 51 in a latch trip member 58. As will be seen by reference to Figs. 13 and 14, the latch trip 58 comprises a cross portion 59 and a pair of arms 60. Each of the arms 60 has an elongated perforation 6I positioned to clear the pin 56. At the ends of the arms adjusting notches 62 are provided for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

A pair of operating bars 63 and 64 are mounted on the side walls 5I and 52 of the top portion 45 of the wringer frame by means of release bar hinge assemblies 65 and 66. Each of the operating bars 63 and 64 is supported by a hinge assembly of the type indicated at 65 at one end and by a hinge assembly of the type indicated at 66 at the opposite end (see' Fig. 9). The hinge assembly 65 is made up of a pair of plates 61 pivoted on the pin 68 carried by the operating bar 64, the plates 61 being spaced apart by a spacer 69 held in position by the pin 68 and by rivet 10. Plates 61 include elongated trigger portions 1I adapted to pass through slots 12' in the side walls 5I and 52 of the top portion 45 of the wringer frame and the spacers 69 include somewhat similar extensions 12. Notches 13 and 14 are provided on the plates 61 in such a manner that these plates may penetrate the slot 12' before the spacer 69 is riveted into position, but the spacer 69 is so shaped to prevent the. parts from being removed when secured by the pin 68 and the rivet 10.

With reference now to Figs. 3, 5 and 6, it will be seen that the rivet 1U of the trigger 1I of the hinge assembly 65 is positioned immediately below one of the arms 60 of the latch trip 58 and this trigger portion 1I may be actuated to move the latch trip 58 and thus disengage the latch 53 from the latch pin 35. As will be seen from Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the operating bars 63 and 64 depend downwardly and outwardly from the pivot pin 68. Therefore, any force exerted upwardly or outwardly on the operating bars63 or 64 will be effective to move the parts into the positions shown in Fig. 5. As here illustrated, the operating bar 64 pivots at the point 15, throwing the pin 68 outwardly and causing the hinge assembly 65 to pivot on the lower edge 16 of the slot 12' and prying the trigger portion 1I of the plate 61 upwardly to operate the latch trip 58. It will be appreciated that in this movement the assembly 65 pivots at 68 and rivet 10 is not fastened to the arm 64. It should be noted that -all of the operating parts are mounted for pivotal movement. This often becomes a feature of great importance in wri-nger release mechanisms, since it will be readily understood that these devices are seldom lubricated and since all parts are repeatedly exposed to moisture they must be capa-v ble of dependable operation with a minimum amount of friction, even when in a badly rusted condition. For these reasons it will be readily understood, that the pivotal mounting possesses important advantages over any construction employing closely tted parts or slides.

Any force exerted downwardly or inwardly on oneof the operating bars 63 or 64 will cause the parts to move into the position shown in Fig. 6. In this case the entire assembly pivots at the' point-16 and again raises the trigger portion 1I into operating engagement with the arm 6I) of the latch trip 58. As will be seen in Fig. l0, the

latch trip 58 is supported at one end by the ears 56 of the latch 53 and the plates 61 engage the arms 60 at substantially their mid-point. The ends of the arms 60 contact the top portion 45 of the wringer frame and when the plates 61 are moved upwardly the latch trip 58 will pivot at the extreme ends of the arms 6 0 and thus operate the latch 53 by means of the perforations 51 and theears 56. This operation will cause the latch 53 to pivot about the pin 50 against the tension of the spring 55 and to withdraw theend portions 54 from engagement with the latch pin 35. Since it is desirable that there be no lost motion between the parts, the adjusting notches 62 have been provided on the arms 60. By inserting a screw driver or other tool in this notch the notch may be spread somewhat and thus move the position of the pivot point 11 on the arm 60 and eliminate any play in the latch trip 58.

From the previous description it will be apparent that the operating bar hinge assembly 65 is eiective to operate the latch trip 58 whenever one of the operating bars 63 or 64 may be moved in either direction; However, since the operating bar does not always pivot at the 'same point it is necessary that the ends of the bars opposite the hinge assembly 65 be provided with a somewhat similar hinge assembly as illustrated at 66. This assembly 66 comprises an upper plate 18 mounted on the pin 19 and pivoted to a lower plate by the rivet 8l. 'Ihe plates 18 and 80 carry ear portions 82 and 83 adapted to penetrate slots 84 in the side walls l and 52 of the top portion 45 of the wringer frame and a spring 85 provides sufcient tension between the parts to prevent looseness or rattle and to return the operating bars 63 and 64 to their normal positions. The hinge assembly 66 follows the movement of the hinge assembly 65 and thusl prevents any distortion or twisting of the operating bars 63 and 64.

When the operating bars are operated and the latch 53 is disengaged from the latch pin 35,` the pressure of the leaf spring 23 is transmitted v through the bearings and rolls and will force the reset roller upwardly against the inner surface of the top hinge bracket 41 and will throw the top portion 45 of the wringerframe and its associated mechanism upwardly to release the. rolls. A pair of retaining links 86 are mounted on the sub-stop by means of a rivet 81 and a pair of slide links 88 are slidably secured thereto by the rivets 39. A bracket 9U is secured to the top frame and the slide links 88 are secured to this bracket by means of rivets 9|. These links 86 and 88 limit the movement of the top portion 45 at the time of release and thus prevent the top portion 45 from being thrown completely over or from striking the operator, etc.

While it is believed that the operation of the device will be understood from the foregoing description, it will be here briefly reviewed.

In Fig. 3 the parts are shown in their normal inoperative position. When one of the operating bars 63 or 64 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 the trigger portion 1l of the plate 61 will move upwardly against the arm 68 of the latch trip 58. The latch trip 58 will pivot against the top portion 45 of the wringer frame at the pivot point 11, causing the cross portion 59 of the latch trip 58 carrying the perforations 51 to move upwardly. Suicient clearance is provided in the elongated opening 6| so that the pin 58 will not prevent such motion. The latch 53 will be moved out of engagement with the latch pin 35 by means of the ears 56 engaging the latch trip 58 at the perorations 51 and the leaf spring 23 will then throw the top frame upwardly and release the pressure on the rolls. While in Fig. 5 both the release bars 63 and 64 are shown in their operating position, it will be understood that either of these bars operating singly will produce the effect described. As a matter of fact any transverse force on the operating bars 63 and 64 or either of them up or down or in or out will trip the latch 53 and release the pressure.

In order to reset the mechanism the top frame portion 45 is manually returned to its original position and the latch 53 will then engage the latch pin 35. During this operation the reset. roller 38Wil1 ride on the inner surface of the top hinge bracket 41 and the leverage exerted by the top frame portion 45 pivoting around the pin 46 will be effective to force the bearing 32 downivardly by means of the bearing retaining Aplate While I have illustrated and described what is at present a preferred embodiment ofthe invention it will be appreciated that it is susceptiblev of embodiment in other wringers and in other forms as well as susceptible of many modifications, all without departing from the invention` spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

claim:

l. In a wringer mechanism, including a frame, a plurality of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, and latch means for maintaining said pressure rolls in cooperating engagement, the combination of a pair of manually operable release members, each mounted for pivotal movement about either of two pivot points on a relatively flat surface of the wringer frame, actuator members supporting said release members and adapted to movement responsive to the movement of said release members, and a pivoted latch trip member contacting each of said actuator members and adapted to be operated responsive to the movement of either of said actuator members and adapted to release the aforementioned latch means, said trip member including a portion which is so constructed as to be bendable for altering the relative position of the pivot points and points of contact of the severalmembers to eliminate any lost motion between the several members of the structure. f

2. In a wringer mechanism, including a frame, a plurality of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, and latch means for maintaining said pressure rolls in cooperating engagement, the combination of a pair of manually operable release members, each mounted for pivotal movement about either of two pivot points on a relatively flat surface of the wringer fra-me, actuator members supporting said release members and adapted to movement responsive to the movement of said release members and a pivoted latch trip member contacting each of said actuator members and adapted to be operated responsive to the movement of eitherA of said actuator members and adapted to release the aforementioned latch means.

3. In a wringer mechanism, including a frame, a plurality of pressure ro-lls, a pressure spring, and latch means for maintaining said pressure rolls in cooperating engagement, the combination of a pair of manually operable release members, each mounted for pivotal movement about either of two pivot points, actuator members supporting said release members and adapted to movement responsive to the movement of said release members, and a pivoted latch trip member contacting each of said actuator members and adapted to be operated responsive to the movement of either of said actuator members and adapted to release the aforementioned latch means.

4. In a wringer mechanism, including a frame, a plurality of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, and latch means for maintaining said pressure rolls in cooperating engagement, the combination of a manually operable release member mounted for pivotal. movement about either of two pivot points, an actuator member supporting said release member and adapted for movement responsive to the movement of said release member, and a pivoted l'atch trip member contacting said actuator member and adapted to be operated responsive to the movement of said actuator and to release the aforementioned latch means.

5. In a Wringer mechanism, including a frame, a plurality of pressure rolls, and means for causing said rolls to operate in a cooperating pressure relationship, a pressure release mechanism comprising a pair of release bars extending longitudinally along the sides of the wrnger frame, cooperating pivot points on said wringer release bars and frame whereby said release bars are adapted to pivot about one point responsive .to certain downward and inward forces applied to said bars, and adapted to a pivot about a difierent point responsive to upward and outward forces applied to said bars; pivotal hinge members supporting said bars and extending inwardly within the walls of said frame, means responsive to the movement of one of said bars for moving said hinge members, and means responsive to the movement of said hinge members to actuate the aforementioned pressure mechanism.

6. In a wringer mechanism including a frame, a plurality of pressure rolls, and means for causing said rolls to operate in a cooperating pressure relationship, a pressure release mechanism comprising a pair of release bars extending longitudinally along the wringer frame, cooperating pivot points on said wringer release bars and frame whereby said release bars are adapted to pivot about more than one point responsive Ito certain forces applied in diierent directions to said bars, actuator members supporting said bars and extending inwardly within the walls of said frame, means responsiveto the movement of one of said bars for moving said actuator members,- and means responsive to the movement of said actuator members to actuate the aforementioned pressure mechanism.

7. In a wringer mechanism including a frame, a plurality of pressure rolls, and means for causing said rolls to operate in a cooperating pressure relationship,V a pressure release mechanism comprising a release bar extending longitudinally along the wringer frame, cooperating pivot points on said wringer release bar and frame whereby said release bar is adapted to pivot about one point responsive to certain downward and inward forces applied to said bars, and adapted to a pivot about a different point responsive toupward and outward forces applied to said bar; pivotal hinge members supporting said bar and extending inwardly within the walls of said frame, means responsive to the movement of said bar for moving said actuator hinge members, and means responsive to the movement of said actuator hinge members to actuate the aforemen-r tioned pressure mechanism.

8. In a wringer mechanism including a frame, a plurality of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, and a latch adapted to retain said rolls in cooperating pressure engagement, a pressure release mechanism comprising a perforated wringer frame wall structure, hinge assemblies comprising actuator members extending through said wall structure and pivotally mounted on said wall structure, release bars pivotally connected with said actuator members and adapted for pivotal movement in more than one direction, means responsive to any pivotal movement of said release bars to impart pivotal movement to said actuator members, and means responsive to the pivotal movement of one of said actuator members for releasing said latch.

NICHOLAS L. ETTEN. 

